JP5453418B2 - System and method for providing a separate contention window that enables allocation of pending uplink SDMA transmission opportunities - Google Patents

Description

Related applications

  This application is based on “Systems and Methods for a Separate Contention Window Allowing Allocations for Pending Uplink SDMA” filed on July 14, 2008. Claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 080,621 entitled TXOP).

  The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems. More specifically, the present disclosure describes a system of separate contention windows that enables allocation of pending uplink spatial division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOPs). And a method.

  Wireless communication devices are becoming smaller and more powerful to meet consumer needs and to improve portability and convenience. Consumers are becoming dependent on wireless communication devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers and the like. Consumers are increasingly expecting reliable services, extended coverage areas, and improved functionality. A wireless communication device is referred to as a mobile station, subscriber station, access terminal, remote station, user terminal, terminal, subscriber unit, user equipment, and the like. In this specification, the term “subscriber station” is used.

  A wireless communication system provides communication to multiple cells. Each of the cells is served by a base station. A base station may be a fixed station that communicates with a mobile station. A base station is alternatively referred to as an access point or some other terminology.

  A subscriber station may communicate with one or more base stations via uplink and downlink transmissions. The uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from the subscriber station to the base station, and the downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from the base station to the subscriber station. A wireless communication system simultaneously supports communication of multiple subscriber stations.

  A wireless communication system is a multiple access system that can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (eg, bandwidth and transmit power). Examples of such multiple access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and space division. Includes multiple access (SDMA).

  The IEEE 802.11 group is currently investigating the standardization of a new high speed version of 802.11 under the name VHT (Very High Throughput). Technologies that allow multiple transmissions to occur in parallel without causing collisions, such as SDMA and OFDMA, are discussed in this group.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system that includes an access point that is in wireless electronic communication with a plurality of subscriber stations. FIG. 2 shows a system for a transmission scheme between an access point and multiple subscriber stations in an SDMA contention window and uplink SDMA TXOP when the access point does not provide feedback. FIG. 3 illustrates a transmission scheme between an access point and multiple subscriber stations in the SDMA contention window and uplink SDMA TXOP when the access point provides feedback to the subscriber station at the end of the SDMA contention window. Indicates the system. FIG. 4 illustrates a system for a transmission scheme between an access point and multiple subscriber stations in an SDMA contention window and uplink SDMA TXOP when the access point provides feedback to the subscriber station after each allocation indication. Indicates. FIG. 5 shows a system for a transmission scheme between an access point and multiple subscriber stations in a fixed length SDMA contention window and uplink SDMA TXOP. FIG. 6 shows a system for an uplink SDMA transmission scheme with enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA). FIG. 7 shows a system of an uplink SDMA transmission scheme with parallel request capability. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a separate contention window method that enables allocation of pending uplink SDMA TXOPs. FIG. 8a shows a means plus functional block corresponding to the method of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a separate contention window method that enables allocation of pending uplink SDMA TXOPs when access feedback is present at the end of the contention window. FIG. 9a shows a means plus function block corresponding to the method of FIG. FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a separate contention window method that enables allocation of pending uplink SDMA TXOPs when an acknowledgment is present after receiving an allocation indication. FIG. 10a shows a means plus functional block corresponding to the method of FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the various components of the demarcation display. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the various components of the allocation display. FIG. 13 illustrates various components utilized in a wireless device.

Detailed description

  A method for providing uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOP) is described. The method is performed by a wireless device. A demarcation indication is sent to one or more subscriber stations. The SDMA contention window begins. An allocation indication is received. The requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource is allocated according to the allocation indication. Collisions are handled in the SDMA contention window. After the SDMA contention window ends, an uplink SDMA TXOP begins.

  A block ACK is sent to the subscriber station. After the SDMA contention window ends, feedback is sent to the subscriber station. Uplink SDMA TXOP begins after feedback is sent to the subscriber station. The feedback includes allocation of SDMA TXOP. After receiving the allocation indication, an ACK is sent. The wireless device supports the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard.

  A wireless device configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) is also described. The wireless device includes a processor. The wireless device also includes circuitry coupled to the processor. The circuit is configured to send a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations. The circuit is further configured to initiate an SDMA contention window. The circuit is further configured to receive an allocation indication. The circuit is further configured to allocate the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication.

  An apparatus configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) is described. The apparatus includes means for sending a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations. The apparatus also includes means for initiating an SDMA contention window. The apparatus further includes means for receiving an allocation indication. The apparatus also includes means for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication.

  A computer program product is described that provides an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP). The computer program product can include a computer readable medium having instructions thereon. The instructions include code that sends a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations. The instruction may also include code that initiates an SDMA contention window. The instructions may further include code that receives an allocation indication. The instructions may also include code for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication.

  A method for providing uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOP) is also described. An allocation indication can be received. The requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource may be allocated according to the allocation indication.

  A wireless device configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) is described. The wireless device may include a processor. A wireless device may include circuitry coupled to the processor. The circuit may be configured to receive an allocation indication. The circuit may be further configured to allocate the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication.

  An apparatus configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) is described. The apparatus can include means for receiving an allocation indication. The apparatus may also include means for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication.

  A computer program product that provides uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOP) is also described. The computer program product can include a computer readable medium having instructions thereon. The instructions can include code that receives an allocation indication. The instructions may also include code for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication.

  A method for providing uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOP) is described. The method may be performed by a wireless device. An uplink SDMA request (USR) may be received. The requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource may be allocated according to the USR. In response to the USR frame, an ACK frame may be sent. When sufficient resources are allocated, an uplink SDMA TXOP can begin. An uplink SDMA TXOP may also begin when sufficient time has expired. An uplink SDMA TXOP can also be initiated by sending an allocation frame.

  Uplink SDMA TXOP may begin by integrating allocation frames into ACK frames. An uplink SDMA TXOP can also be initiated by sending an allocation frame in a short inter-frame space (SIFS) after sending an ACK frame. The USR frame may be an RTS frame, and the ACK frame may be a CTS frame.

  A method for providing uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOP) is also disclosed. The method may be performed by a wireless device. An uplink SDMA request (USR) may be sent. In response to the USR frame, an ACK frame may be received. An allocation frame can be received. Uplink data may be transmitted according to the allocation frame. Backoff is stopped when an ACK is received in response to a USR frame. After the uplink SDMA TXOP occurs, backoff can be resumed. Backoff can also be resumed after the USR frame is transmitted.

  The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 working group aims to prepare an official standard for wireless local area network (WLAN) computer communications in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz public spectrum bands.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 that includes an access point 102 that is in wireless electronic communication with a plurality of subscriber stations 104. Access point 102 may be a base station. The subscriber station 104 can be a mobile station, such as a mobile phone and a wireless network card.

  Access point 102 may be in electronic communication with each of subscriber stations 104. For example, the access point 102 may send electronic communication to the subscriber station 104 via a downlink transmission 112. Similarly, subscriber station 104 may send electronic communication to access point 102 via uplink transmission 110. Subscriber station 104 may receive transmissions from access point 102 that are not directed to this particular subscriber station 104. For example, access point 102 may send a downlink transmission 110 that is also received by subscriber station 2 104b to subscriber station 1 104a. Similarly, subscriber station 104 may receive uplink transmissions 110 that are not directed from other subscriber stations 104 to other subscriber stations 104. For example, subscriber station 2 104b may send an uplink transmission 110 to access point 102 that may also be received by subscriber station 3 104c.

  Multiple subscriber stations 104 may be in electronic communication with a single access point 102 at any given time. Thus, the access point 102 can receive transmissions from more than one subscriber station 104 during the same time frame. Such communication may be referred to as parallel transmission in the uplink direction 110. Subscriber station 104 may communicate with access point 102 using distributed channel access. This communication typically accesses the channel based on random timing. One limitation of such communication is that parallel transmission in the uplink direction 110 must start at exactly the same time. The period during which parallel transmission in the uplink direction 110 occurs is called SDMA TXOP (transmission opportunity). In the current discussion, SDMA technology is mentioned, but this term is assumed to cover other similar technologies as well.

  FIG. 2 shows a system 200 for a transmission scheme between access point 102 and multiple subscriber stations 104 in SDMA contention window 210 and uplink SDMA TXOP 212 when access point 102 does not provide feedback. The SDMA contention window 210 is a period during which allocation can be done for the pending uplink SDMA TXOP 212.

  The contention window 210 must be long enough to allow the TXOP 212 to be fully claimed. A short contention window 210 results in the TXOP 212 not being fully used. This is because sufficient allocation indication to claim full channel is not sent. This has a negative impact on performance.

  The access point 102 may send a demarcation indication (DI) 202 first. Access point 102 may transmit demarcation indication 102 via downlink transmission 112. The demarcation display 202 may be received by all subscriber stations 104 that are in electronic communication with the access point 102. Alternatively, some of the subscriber stations 104 that are in electronic communication with the access point 102 may not receive the demarcation indication 202. The boundary definition display 202 will be discussed in more detail later in connection with FIG.

  After the demarcation indication 202 is sent, the SDMA contention window 210 for the access point 102 may begin. The SDMA contention window 210 may begin immediately after the demarcation indication 202 is sent. Alternatively, the SDMA contention window 210 may begin after a preset time delay has elapsed.

  In the SDMA contention window 210, the subscriber station 104 can claim a portion of the pending SDMA TXOP 212 by sending an allocation indication (AI). The SDMA contention window 210 can be divided into slots 230 that are large enough to contain allocation indications, possibly ACKs, and TX to RX turnaround times. For example, if the allocation display transmission is 4 μs (microseconds) and the turnaround time is 5 μs (including 1 μs air propagation delay), the resulting slot time is 9 μs. If ACK is also 4 μs, the slot size is doubled to 18 μs. The slot size decreases when no allocation display occurs. The allocation indication may be sent by uplink transmission 110. Access point 102 may receive an allocation indication from subscriber station 104. Subscriber station 104 may also receive allocation indications from other subscriber stations 104. A subscriber station 104 may track allocations made by other subscriber stations 104. A subscriber station 104 may avoid making the same allocation as that made by other subscriber stations 104. For a pending uplink SDMA TXOP 212, once the subscriber station 104 is unable to allocate, the subscriber station 104 may set its clear channel assessment (CCA) busy.

  The type of access can be any type of random contention based access including enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA). In the case of EDCA, all slots 230 in the SDMA contention window 210 are empty slots 230, including slots 230 where allocation indications are received until the TXOP 212 has been fully allocated for the subscriber station 104. (I.e., Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) is not busy). The fully allocated time is when the CCA becomes busy, and contention is postponed until the next contention window 210. Depending on the capabilities of the subscriber station 104, this point is reached at different stages of the contention window 210 for different subscriber stations 104. In other words, for EDCA, the first slot 230 of the contention window 210 is the arbitration interframe space (AIFS) followed by the actual backoff slot until the TXOP 212 is fully allocated and the CCA is busy. Interpreted.

  In one configuration, the access point 102 may not provide feedback to the subscriber station 104 in the SDMA contention window 210. In such a case, the contention window 210 may need to be large enough to avoid too many collisions between two or more allocation displays. The time of slot 230 may be equal to the size of allocation display 204 plus a possible processing time and a possible Tx / Rx turnaround time 232. A collision occurs in the SDMA contention window 210 when multiple allocation indications are sent simultaneously. The access point 102 can receive a colliding transmission. However, the majority of assignment indication conflicting transmissions cannot be decoded by the access point 102.

  Collisions between channel allocation indications are a fundamental property of contention-based channel access protocols. In the case of a collision, two subscriber stations 104 are using the same part of the channel simultaneously. This doubles the received power of the collision subcarrier and causes all subcarriers to fail. Therefore, the effect of the collision is exacerbated. This is because all announced transmissions fail, not just the conflicting transmissions. The conflicting allocation indication is not decoded by the receiving subscriber station 104, and therefore it is not known which part of the channel is claimed by the conflicting allocation frame. In this case, the safe assumption is to assume that the channel is fully occupied and therefore the CCA is busy for the rest of the contention window 210.

  A possible solution to this problem is to cause the access point 102 to send a collision signal (or new demarcation indication 202) in the slot 230 following the collision and restart the contention window 210 without actually causing the colliding TXOP. It is to be. This improves the collision efficiency in the same way that transmission request / transmission clear (RTS / CTS) or CTS-PIFS (point adjustment function inter-frame spacing) is performed. The collision subscriber station 104 knows that the collision subscriber station 104 has collided because the allocation display of the collision subscriber station 104 was followed by the collision indication by the access point 102. However, the collision display can collide with the allocation display. In this case, the colliding TXOP cannot be avoided. Collision subscriber station 104 may see the reset signal immediately after sending the allocation indication. Collision subscriber station 104 may interpret the reset signal as a collision with respect to selecting a new backoff.

  An alternative to the collision display is a channel access grant display from the access point 102. The access point 102 grants access to all subscriber stations 104 that the access point 102 thinks has not caused a collision. This may also be used when there are more allocation indications than are possible in the uplink SDMA TXOP 212. For example, there are 64 possible allocation indications, and only 8 spatial streams are available for SDMA. In this case, the access point 102 can perform mapping from the allocation display to the SDMA stream. This prevents collisions unless the two subscriber stations 104 use the same allocation indication. If access point 102 is not involved, groups of 8 different allocation indications are mapped to the same spatial stream, which increases the probability of collision.

  The award indication from the access point 102 is also used to determine the start time of the TXOP 212. In this case, the contention window 210 need not have a fixed length. However, it is useful to protect the transmission of the award indication.

  If the access point 102 does not provide feedback to the subscriber station 104 in the contention window 210, the subscriber station 104 allocation indication should specifically indicate which portion of the uplink SDMA TXOP 212 is required. is there. It is not enough to indicate how much uplink SDMA TXOP 212 is needed. Each subscriber station 104 monitors the allocation indication for the pending uplink SDMA TXOP 212. Each subscriber station 104 adapts the intended allocation indication based on the current allocation of the reserved uplink SDMA TXOP 212.

  A collision can also occur when multiple subscriber stations 104 send an allocation indication requesting the same portion of uplink SDMA TXOP 212. If the access point 102 does not provide feedback to the subscriber station 104 in the contention window 210, collisions between the uplink SDMA TXOP 212 may potentially destroy all other transmissions in the uplink SDMA TXOP 212. If the allocation display is designed so that the access point 102 can observe a collision during the allocation display, the access point 102 can respond to the detected collision by restarting the contention window 210. Also good. Alternatively, the access point 102 may respond to the detected collision by reassigning the conflicting request to other parts of the uplink SDMA TXOP 212. The access point 102 may respond to the detected collision by sending a collision signal that prompts the collision subscriber station 104 to compete again.

  After receiving an allocation indication in the SDMA contention window 210, a preset Tx / Rx turnaround time 232 may be required before the subscriber station 104 that sent the allocation indication receives an additional allocation indication. An allocation indication may be received in the slot 230 time frame. One or more empty slots 230 may occur during the received allocation indication. As shown in FIG. 2, after allocation indication 1 (AI1) 204 is received by access point 102, two empty slots 230 have elapsed before allocation indication 2 (AI2) 206 is transmitted. One or more empty slots 230 are not required during the received allocation indication. As shown in FIG. 2, after allocation indication 2 206 is received by access point 102, empty slot 230 does not elapse before allocation indication 3 (AI 3) 208 is received by access point 102.

  The SDMA contention window 210 can end once a predetermined amount of time has elapsed. Alternatively, the SDMA contention window 210 may terminate once all of the uplink SDMA TXOP 212 has been allocated to the subscriber station 104. As a further alternative, the SDMA contention window 210 may terminate once a certain number of empty slots 230 have occurred. As discussed above, the SDMA contention window 210 can end if a collision occurs and the access point 102 detects a collision. Once the SDMA contention window 210 ends, the uplink SDMA TXOP 212 can start. Uplink SDMA TXOP 212 may start with a fixed offset after transmission by access point 102. For example, the uplink SDMA TXOP 212 may start at a fixed time after the demarcation indication 202 is sent. Alternatively, uplink SDMA TXOP 212 may start after access point 102 sends a transmission at the end of SDMA contention window 210. The subscriber station 104 then performs data transmission 214, 216, 218 on the previously allocated portion of the uplink SDMA TXOP 212.

  SDMA TXOP 212 may include staggered TXOPs 214, 216, 218 that take different amounts of time. The start times of staggered transmissions must be synchronized. It is desirable that the end times be more or less the same. For example, it is desirable that the end times are substantially the same. The access point 102 may set a target length for the SDMA TXOP 212 based on which subscriber station 104 changes its channel allocation to allow time to be filled. A combination of intended subcarrier rate and amount of data may be used to determine the amount of channel allocation required.

  When subscriber station 104 receives the allocation indication, subscriber station 104 may be prohibited from claiming the same portion of the channel in the same contention window 210. If the subscriber station 104 cannot change the channel allocation while it is active, the Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) is busy even if only a small portion of the intended allocation is allocated by other subscriber stations 104. Can be. More sophisticated subscriber stations 104 may make quick allocation changes. Therefore, the subscriber station 104 has more transmission options.

  The displayed channel allocation may be specified in terms of spatial stream (SDMA), or subcarrier (OFDMA), or a combination thereof. The allocation indication may not require a basic service set identification (BSSID). This is because channel allocation is not related to BSSID, but to all subscriber station 104 competitors in the spatial domain around subscriber station 104. Overlapping networks should take into account allocations made for other networks. Otherwise, a collision will occur. However, contention windows 210 do not overlap. This is because the boundary definition display 202 is not transmitted at the same time.

  The access point 102 only asserts the full channel. This is because simultaneous transmission and reception are impossible.

  SDCA (Staggered Distributed Channel Access) introduces some extra overhead compared to Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA). This is because the EDCA contention window is usually equal to the shortest backoff in the system, but the SDCA contention window is fixed and potentially wastes some slots. However, the additional overhead is small because the contention / allocation window is still short compared to the average length of TXOP. In addition, staggered TXOPs can be long.

  SDCA does not have full backward compatibility with EDCA, but these two can be used together. Allocation frames (if they can be received by the legacy device) cause the legacy device to start a new arbitration interframe space (AIFS), but the SDCA device continues to count down for backoff. When the CCA becomes busy for the SDCA station, the EDCA station continues to count down for backoff. The access point 102 may broadcast an indication of the allocation ratio based on the number of active subscriber stations 104. The subscriber station 104 can use this ratio to determine its channel allocation.

  After the uplink SDMA TXOP 212 is terminated, the access point 102 becomes idle over a short interframe space (SIFS) 234. The access point 102 then transmits a block acknowledgment (block ACK) 236 to multiple subscriber stations simultaneously using SDMA TXOP. Block ACK 236 includes ACKs 224, 226, 228 for subscriber station 104. Then, after a normal backoff 220, the demarcation indication 202 is sent again. Thus, multiple SDMA networks overlap without collapsing, and SDMA contention-based access can be mixed with legacy devices.

  FIG. 3 illustrates access point 102 and multiple subscriber stations 104 in SDMA contention window 310 and uplink SDMA TXOP 312 when the access point provides feedback 340 to subscriber station 104 at the end of SDMA contention window 310. 1 shows a system 300 of a transmission scheme between The access point 102 transmits a boundary zone indication 302 to the subscriber station 104. The size of the contention window 310 is announced in the boundary definition display 302. The access point 102 may base the size number on the number of currently active subscriber station 104 competitors.

  After the demarcation indication 302 is sent, the SDMA contention window 310 starts. Access point 102 receives an initial allocation indication AI1 304 from subscriber station 1 104a. The preset Tx / Rx turnaround time 332 expires before the access point 102 can receive additional allocation indications. One or more empty slots 330 may occur during the allocation indication received. Access point 102 then receives a second allocation indication AI2 306 from subscriber station 2 104b. After the Tx / Rx turnaround time 332, the access point 102 immediately receives a third allocation indication AI3 308 from the subscriber station 3 104c. The SDMA contention window 310 then ends.

  One drawback of random distributed channel access (SDCA) without feedback from the access point 102 is the fact that an allocation indication must be received by all competing subscriber stations 104 in the network. If the competitive subscriber station 104 does not properly receive the allocation indication, this competitive subscriber station will miss the pending TXOP 312. In this regard, the contention window 310 should be short. This is because the boundary definition display 302 has a reset effect. However, this conflicts with the previous problem of filling the TXOP 312. This problem is alleviated when the access point 102 sends out an allocation grant prior to the TXOP 312.

  The access point 102 may send an allocation grant in the form of an access point feedback frame 340 at the end of the SDMA contention window 310. The allocation grant announces the schedule contents of the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 so that a collision in the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 is avoided. Thus, the SDMA contention window 310 is reduced at the cost of an extra access point feedback frame 340. Collision avoidance in the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 is valuable. This is because the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 is longer than the non-SDMA TXOP and the collision cost is higher. Collision avoidance in uplink SDMA TXOP 312 is more valuable. This is because a partial collision at the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 causes the entire transmission at the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 to fail.

  Since the access point 102 provides an access point feedback frame 340, the allocation display only displays the required amount of resources required by the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 and displays the specific portion of the required uplink SDMA TXOP 312. do not do. The access point 102 then assigns the actual allocation of resources to the subscriber station 104. Since access point 102 allocates all of the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 resources, only access point 102 receives the allocation indication and each subscriber station 104 does not. This improves the reliability of the system 100. The structure of the allocation indication allows conflicting transmissions to be received by the access point 102 under certain circumstances. If the access point 102 receives a conflicting request, the access point 102 assigns a different portion of the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 to the subscriber station 104 that has the conflicting allocation indication.

  The allocation of uplink SDMA TXOP 312 does not include conflicting requests. The requesting subscriber station 104 must wait until the next SDMA contention window 310 and retry the failed request for allocation of uplink SDMA TXOP 312 resources. Requests that exceed available uplink SDMA TXOP 312 capacity do not appear in the access point feedback frame 340. Requests that do not appear in the access point feedback frame 340 must be interpreted as a collision by the requesting subscriber station 104 and sent again in the next SDMA contention window 310. The start of uplink SDMA TXOP 312 may be timed from delimitation indication 302 or access point feedback frame 340.

  Once the SDMA contention window 310 ends and an access point feedback frame 340 is sent, the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 starts. The subscriber station 104 then performs data transmission 314, 316, 318 on the previously allocated portion of the uplink SDMA TXOP 312. After the uplink SDMA TXOP 312 is finished, the access point 102 becomes idle at SIFS 334. The access point 102 then transmits a block ACK 336 to multiple subscriber stations 104 simultaneously using SDMA TXOP. Block ACK 336 includes ACKs 324, 326, 328 for subscriber station 104. The demarcation indication 302 is then sent again after the normal backoff 320.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an SDMA contention window 410 and uplink SDMA TXOP 412 between an access point 102 and multiple subscriber stations 104 when the access point 102 provides feedback to the subscriber station 104 after each allocation indication. 1 shows a system 400 for a transmission scheme. The access point 102 transmits a demarcation indication 402 to the subscriber station 104. After the demarcation indication 402 is sent, the SDMA contention window 410 starts. Access point 102 receives an initial allocation indication AI1 404 from subscriber station 1 104a. The access point 102 waits for a preset Tx / Rx turnaround time 432 before sending feedback to the subscriber station 104. The time spent receiving the allocation indication as well as the Tx / Rx turnaround time 432 is slot 430. The feedback may be in the form of an ACK 450 indicating that the allocation indication 404 has been received. ACK 450 includes a summary of the latest uplink SDMA TXOP 412 allocation. The time spent transmitting ACK 450 and the Tx / Rx turnaround time 432 is slot 430. Thus, the access point 102 can signal an SDMA TXOP 412 allocation while the allocation process is still in progress. Proceeding further in the SDMA contention window 410 reduces the remaining portion of the uplink SDMA TXOP 412, so it is important that the access point 102 be able to recognize conflicting requests. This is because the contention for the reduced uplink portion of SDMA TXOP 412 increases.

  The allocation indication is not transmitted in every second slot. This is because the second slot is designated as an ACK from the access point 102. The allocation indication is not sent in the slot after the allocation indication is sent. This is because this slot is designated as an ACK from the access point 102.

  The allocation display displays the requested allocation of uplink SDMA TXOP 412 resources or only the amount of resources needed. The ACK 450 contains the actual allocation. If it is observed that the intended allocation has become occupied by other subscriber stations 104, the competing subscriber station 104 may request the uplink SDMA TXOP 412 intent in the SDMA contention window 410. Change the allocated allocation. However, if the access point 102 determines the actual allocation, the allocation display includes only the amount of resources required. When uplink SDMA TXOP 412 is fully allocated, access point 102 uses ACK 450 to truncate SDMA contention window 410. Thus, the start of uplink SDMA TXOP 412 may be offset in time from the ACK 450 to be truncated. If a collision occurs, the subscriber station 104 that sent the colliding request retries the request as part of the same SDMA contention window 410. This leads to good utilization of the uplink SDMA TXOP 412.

  A channel having the same statistical characteristics as enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) by interpreting the allocation indication as a request to send (RTS) frame and interpreting ACK 450 as a clear to send (CTS) frame based on the method of FIG. An access mechanism can be created. The actual data transmission following the CTS is deferred to the uplink SDMA TXOP 412. In this case, the boundary definition display 402 is not required. The AI / ACK exchange is interpreted as a back-off interrupt. This means that an arbitration inter-frame space (AIFS) starts after each received AI / ACK exchange. The uplink SDMA TXOP 412 is not itself interpreted as a backoff interrupt, nor is it interpreted as an empty slot 430. When ACK 450 is not received, the normal retransmission procedure starts.

  If uplink SDMA TXOP 412 has been fully allocated, but contention window 410 has not yet exited, access point 102 has several options. Access point 102 may continue to acknowledge the successful allocation indication received from subscriber station 104. In this case, uplink SDMA TXOP 412 fails, but access point 102 may optimize the size of contention window 410.

  Alternatively, the access point 102 may not acknowledge the successful allocation indication and cause the allocation indication sender to take a collision. In this case, the size of the SDMA contention window 410 matches the size of the average contention window that is operating.

  Alternatively, the access point 102 may truncate the uplink SDMA TXOP 412 by sending a truncation indication to the subscriber station 104. Access point 102 may truncate uplink SDMA TXOP 412 when SDMA contention window 410 becomes too long and begins to cause undesirable latency for pending allocated transmissions.

  Alternatively, the access point 102 may acknowledge the allocation request by allocating additional requests to further uplink SDMA TXOP 412. However, if the contention window 410 is too long, this will result in more delayed allocation to future further uplink SDMA TXOP 412.

  The method described above is called RTS / CTS with deferred TXOP. One advantage over RTS / CTS is that AI / ACK exchange spends less time. This is because when the allocation display and ACK transmission are generated near the PHY layer, the turnaround time of the allocation display and ACK transmission is shortened. If the geographically close WLAN is an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) sharing a wireless channel, the access point 102 provides network allocation vector (NAV) protection, but the subscriber station 104 does not have this option. This is because the allocation display and ACK are not MAC frames.

  The slot 430 time is shorter than the AI / ACK exchange. This reduces the overhead of the SDMA contention window 410. For a fixed length SDMA contention window 410, the number of slots 430 in the SDMA contention window 410 varies with the number of AI / ACK exchanges that occur. Thus, more AI / ACK exchanges result in fewer empty slots 430.

  One or more empty slots 430 occur between sending the ACK and receiving the additional allocation indication. The access point 102 then receives a second allocation indication AI2 406 from subscriber station 2 104b. After the Tx / Rx turnaround time 432, the access point 102 sends an ACK 452. Access point 102 receives a third allocation indication AI3 408 from subscriber station 3 104c. The access point 102 sends an ACK 454. The SDMA contention window 410 then ends.

  The subscriber station 104 then performs data transmission 414, 416, 418 on the previously allocated portion of the uplink SDMA TXOP 412. After the uplink SDMA TXOP 412 is terminated, the access point 102 becomes idle over the SIFS 434. The access point 102 then transmits a block ACK 436 simultaneously to multiple subscriber stations 104 using SDMA TXOP. Block ACK 436 includes ACKs 424, 426, 428 for subscriber station 104. Then, after a normal backoff 420, the demarcation indication 402 is sent again. Thus, multiple SDMA networks overlap without collapsing, and SDMA contention-based access can be mixed with legacy devices.

  FIG. 5 shows a system 500 for a transmission scheme between an access point 102 and multiple subscriber stations 104 in a fixed length SDMA contention window 510 and uplink SDMA TXOP 512. The access point 102 transmits a demarcation indication 502 to the subscriber station 104. After the demarcation indication 502 is sent, the SDMA contention window 510 starts. At the beginning of the fixed length SDMA contention window 510, the access point 102 is idle over the SIFS 534. Access point 102 receives an initial allocation indication AI1 504 from subscriber station 1 104a.

  If other allocations can still be made by the subscriber station 104, the slot 530 in which the channel allocation indication is received is considered empty for backoff by this subscriber station 104. If no further allocation can be made by the subscriber station 104, the CCA of this slot 530 and all remaining slots 530 of the contention window 510 are assumed to be busy for backoff. By starting AIFS, the backoff continues normally after the pending TXOP. In a further slot 530 of the fixed length SDMA contention window 510, the subscriber station 104, which can still perform the allocation, may claim the rest of the channel. If the allocation indication is not interpreted as an empty slot 530, the competing subscriber station 104 starts a new AIFS after each allocation indication. This causes a change in the distribution of TXOP to the subscriber station 104. In this case, the channel access mechanism still works, but the channel access parameters must be changed to achieve fair channel access for each subscriber station 104.

  Access point 102 receives allocations 504, 506, 508 from subscriber station 104 in different slots 530. The time spent receiving the allocation indication is longer than slot 530 hours. After receiving the allocation indication, the access point 102 becomes idle over the SIFS 534 before receiving additional allocation indications. Before the end of the fixed length SDMA contention window 510, one or more backoff slots 538 occur.

  If AI + SIFS time exceeds slot 530 hours, the number of backoff slots 538 in contention window 510 will vary with the number of allocation indications occurring in contention window 510 (because the length of contention window 510 is Because it is fixed with respect to time and not with respect to the number of backoff slots 538). An improvement is to make the slot 530 size equal to AI + SIFS, which implies a long slot 530 time. Another option is to stagger the start time of the next TXOP with respect to the allocation display transmission instead of the boundary definition display 502 transmission. However, this causes timing problems and introduces problems with hidden nodes (since the allocation indication is sent by subscriber station 104 and not by access point 102). Although the access point 102 is effectively the center of the network, the subscriber station 104 is not, so the air propagation delay is long. The third option is to set the length of the contention window 510 to the number of slots 530, understanding that the slots 530 have different lengths based on whether an allocation indication has been sent. . In the latter case, the time counted for transmission of the allocation indication exceeds the actual time consumed by transmission of the allocation indication. This is because the allocation indication transmission does not occur exactly at the beginning of slot 530 (depending on air propagation delay, medium access control (MAC) delay, etc.). Expressing the last choice in other words, for each allocation indication that occurs in the contention window 510, the contention window 510 is extended by x μs (x ≧ AI + SIFS−slot time).

  The subscriber station 104 then performs data transmission 514, 516, 518 on the previously allocated portion of the uplink SDMA TXOP 512. After the uplink SDMA TXOP 512 is terminated, the access point 102 becomes idle over the SIFS 534. The access point 102 transmits a boundary definition indication 502 after each TXOP 512. If transmission does not start at TXOP 512, the access point 102 transmits a demarcation indication 502 after a point control function (PCF) interframe space (PIFS) idle time. If the TXOP 512 does not start for some contention windows 510, the access point 102 stops sending the demarcation indication 502 until the TXOP 512 occurs (this is an irregularity because the demarcation indication 502 and the allocation indication were not present). Not (SDMA) transmission).

  FIG. 6 shows a system 600 for an uplink SDMA transmission scheme using EDCA. Similar to the allocation indication discussed above, the access point 102 receives an uplink SDMA request (USR) 656 from the subscriber station 104. USR 656 uses normal EDCA contention. The USR 656 may be a normal MAC protocol data unit (MPDU). USR 656 may be a new control subtype. Access point 102 receives USR1 604 from subscriber station 1 104a. After SIFS 630, access point 102 sends ACK 650 to subscriber station 104 to register the SDMA request. The USR / ACK exchange is the same as the RTS / CTS exchange, with the exception that data transmission in the USR / ACK exchange does not occur until SDMA TXOP 664. Transmission savings occur in SDMA TXOP 664 when compared to normal EDCA. This is because transmission occurs in parallel rather than sequentially.

  The access point 102 waits for an EDCA backoff 660 before receiving an additional USR656 frame. Thus, after EDCA backoff 660, access point 102 receives USR2 606 from subscriber station 2 104b. After SIFS 630, access point 102 sends ACK 652 for USR2 606 to register the SDMA request.

  Prior to uplink SDMA TXOP 664, access point 102 transmits an allocation frame 654 that specifies the allocation of TXOP 664. Allocation frame 654 is transmitted in response to the last USR 608 and is therefore part of the last USR 608 ACK. Allocation frame 654 may be sent after SIFS 630 after ACK. Alternatively, allocation frame 654 is sent as a broadcast when the last USR 608 does not arrive on time, but SDMA TXOP 664 should not be postponed further. If SDMA TXOP 664 does not start (possibly indicating a collision), access point 102 retransmits allocation frame 654. A recovery mechanism is defined to re-grant access to the registered subscriber station 104 that did not receive the allocation frame 654. SDMA TXOP 664 starts a fixed time 662 after allocation frame 654. Allocation frame 654 displays the start time of block ACK (BA) frames 624, 626, 628.

  Uplink SDMA is integrated with legacy EDCA by placing USR656 frames using normal control frames. The USR656 frame is transmitted using normal EDCA. Other transmissions 658, eg, legacy TXOP, are interspersed with the USR / ACK frame exchange.

  The access point 102 tracks the received request and sends an allocation frame 654 when the uplink SDMA TXOP 664 is fully satisfied or when the uplink SDMA TXOP 664 can no longer be postponed. Allocation frame 654 may be a SIFS 630 response to USR 656. Alternatively, allocation frame 654 may be a SIFS 630 continuation to ACK. Allocation frame 654 may be a group address frame when USR 656 has not arrived at this point in time for SDMA TXOP 664.

  When the subscriber station 104 successfully reserves the SDMA TXOP 664 slot and the TXOP 664 consumes all of the subscriber station 104 resources (ie, no additional spatial stream is available at the subscriber station 104), the subscriber station 104 suspends contention until after SDMA TXOP 664. This prevents the subscriber station 104 from being assigned two transmissions with the same SDMA TXOP 664. Such an allocation is not possible. Alternatively, if contention is not suspended after a successful request, access point 102 registers the duplicate request and schedules a matched uplink SDMA transmission in a subsequent uplink SDMA TXOP.

  In SDMA TXOP 664, the subscriber station 104 with allocated resources performs transmissions 614, 616, 618 according to those allocated resources. The access point 102 then sends BA frames 624, 626, 628 to the subscriber station 104.

  FIG. 7 shows a system 700 for an uplink SDMA transmission scheme with parallel request capability. Access point 102 receives USR 758 and sends ACK 750. In this figure, USR1 702 is received by access point 102. The access point 102 waits for the SIFS 730 before sending the ACK 750. If USRs 704 and 706 have different spatial streams, multiple USRs 704 and 706 are received in parallel without causing a collision. The spatial stream is selected randomly. When multiple USRs 704 and 706 are received in parallel, the contention window may be small. However, USRs 704 and 706 may be long because multiple spatial stream training fields must exist. After SIFS 730, access point 102 sends ACKs 752 and 754 to the senders of parallel USRs 704 and 706. A subscriber station 104 having a parallel request capability and a subscriber station 104 not having a parallel request capability may be mixed. After receiving the last USR 708, the access point 102 sends a final ACK 756. The last ACK 756 may include an allocation frame. Before the start of SDMA TXOP 764, a fixed timing 762 occurs. In SDMA TXOP 764, multiple subscriber stations 104 perform data transmissions 712, 714, 716, 718 to the access point 102. In SDMA TXOP 764, the access point 102 further sends block ACKs 722, 724, 726, 728 to the subscriber station 104. Parallel USRs 704 and 706 may be transmitted in parallel using different channels or different subchannels (OFDMA). The (sub) channel may be selected randomly.

  FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 800 for a separate contention window 210 that allows allocation for pending uplink SDMA TXOP 212. The access point 102 sends a demarcation indication 202 to the subscriber station 104 at 802. The access point 102 then starts an SDMA contention window 210 at 804. The access point 102 then determines 806 whether the SDMA contention window 210 is closed. If the SDMA contention window 210 is not closed, the access point 102 determines 808 whether the access point 102 has received an allocation indication. If the access point 102 has not received an allocation indication, the access point 102 returns to determining 806 whether the SDMA contention window 210 has been closed. If access point 102 receives an allocation indication, access point 102 determines 810 whether a collision has occurred.

  If a collision has occurred, the access point 102 treats the collision at 812. As discussed above, the access point 102 can move 812 in many ways, for example, by restarting the contention window 210, decoding the conflicting allocation indication, or denying the allocation indication, and continuing the same contention window 210. Treat the collision. Once the access point 102 has handled the collision, the access point 102 returns to determining 806 whether the SDMA contention window 210 has been closed.

  If the access point 102 has received an allocation indication and no collision has occurred, the access point 102 allocates the requested uplink SDMA TXOP 212 resource to the subscriber station 104 at 814. The access point 102 then returns to determining 806 whether the SDMA contention window 210 has been closed.

  If the SDMA contention window 210 is closed, the access point 102 starts an uplink SDMA TXOP 212 at 816. Upon completion of uplink SDMA TXOP 212, access point 102 sends a block ACK 236 to subscriber station 104 at 818. The access point 102 then sends a demarcation indication 202 to the subscriber station 104 at 802.

  The method 800 described above is achieved by various hardware and / or software components and / or modules corresponding to the means plus functional block 800a shown in FIG. 8a. In other words, blocks 802 to 818 shown in FIG. 8 correspond to means plus function blocks 802a to 818a shown in FIG. 8a.

  FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 900 for a separate contention window 310 that enables allocation of a pending uplink SDMA TXOP 312 using access point feedback 340 at the end of the contention window 310. The access point 102 sends a demarcation indication 302 to the subscriber station 104 at 902. The access point 102 then starts an SDMA contention window 310 at 904. The access point 102 then determines 906 whether the SDMA contention window 310 is closed. If the SDMA contention window 310 is not closed, the access point 102 determines 908 whether the access point 102 has received an allocation indication. If the access point 102 has not received an allocation indication, the access point 102 returns to determining 906 whether the SDMA contention window 310 has been closed. If the access point 102 has received an allocation indication, the access point 102 determines 910 whether a collision has occurred.

  If a collision has occurred, the access point 102 treats the collision at 912. Once the access point 102 has handled the collision at 912, the access point 102 returns to determining 906 whether the SDMA contention window 310 has been closed.

  If the access point 102 has received an allocation indication and no collision has occurred, the access point 102 allocates the requested uplink SDMA TXOP 312 resource to the subscriber station 104 at 914. The access point 102 then returns to determining 906 whether the SDMA contention window 310 has been closed.

  If the SDMA contention window 310 is closed, the access point 102 sends 916 access point feedback 340 to the subscriber station 104. The access point 102 then initiates an uplink SDMA TXOP 312 at 918. Upon completion of uplink SDMA TXOP 312, access point 102 sends a block ACK 336 to subscriber station 104 at 920. The access point 102 then sends a demarcation indication 302 to the subscriber station 104 at 902.

  The method 900 of FIG. 9 described above is accomplished by various hardware and / or software components and / or modules corresponding to the means plus functional block 900a shown in FIG. 9a. In other words, the blocks 902 to 920 shown in FIG. 9 correspond to the means plus function block 902a shown in FIG. 9a.

  FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 1000 of a separate contention window 410 that enables allocation of a pending uplink SDMA TXOP 412 using an acknowledgment after receipt of the allocation indication. The access point 102 sends a demarcation indication 402 to the subscriber station 104 at 1002. The access point 102 then starts an SDMA contention window 410 at 1004. The access point 102 then determines 1006 whether the SDMA contention window is closed. If the SDMA contention window 410 is not closed, the access point 102 determines 1008 whether the access point 102 has received an allocation indication. If the access point 102 has not received an allocation indication, the access point 102 returns to determining 1006 whether the SDMA contention window 410 has been closed. If the access point 102 has received an allocation indication, the access point 102 determines 1010 whether a collision has occurred.

  If a collision has occurred, the access point 102 treats the collision at 1012. Once the access point 102 has handled the collision at 1012, the access point 102 returns to determining 1006 whether the SDMA contention window 410 has closed.

  If the access point 102 has received an allocation indication and no collision has occurred, the access point 102 sends an access point acknowledgment (AP ACK) to the subscriber station 104 at 1014. The access point 102 then allocates the requested uplink SDMA TXOP 412 resource to the subscriber station 104 at 1016. The access point 102 then returns to determining 1006 whether the SDMA contention window 410 has been closed.

  If SDMA contention window 410 is closed, access point 102 initiates uplink SDMA TXOP 412 at 1018. When the uplink SDMA TXOP 412 ends, the access point 102 sends a block ACK 436 to the subscriber station 104 at 1020. The access point 102 then sends a delimitation indication 402 to the subscriber station 104 at 1002.

  The method 1000 of FIG. 10 described above is accomplished by various hardware and / or software components and / or modules corresponding to the means plus functional block 1000a shown in FIG. 10a. In other words, blocks 1002 to 1020 shown in FIG. 10 correspond to means plus function blocks 1002a to 1020a shown in FIG. 10a.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the various components of the demarcation display 1102. Boundary definition display 1102 includes contention window statistics 1104, eg, SDMA contention window length, contention window minimum and maximum lengths, AIFS, and Tx probabilities.

  The boundary definition display 1102 further includes a contention window network allocation vector (NAV) 1106. The NAV 1106 indicates how long the subscriber station 104 should postpone media access. Further, the demarcation indication 1102 includes the available number 1108 of streams in the TXOP and the suggested duration 1110 of the TXOP. Finally, boundary definition display 1102 includes BSSID 1112. BSSID 1112 prevents subscriber stations 104 from overlapping networks from competing for pending SDMA TXOPs. In general, subscriber station 104 should compete only for uplink SDMA access to MPDUs having a receiver address (RA) equal to BSSID 1112. The boundary definition display 1102 may include a variety of information not discussed above. The boundary definition display 1102 is a normal 802.11 MPDU.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the various components of the allocation display 1202. Allocation indication 1202 includes intended allocation 1204, unique station identifier 1206 (in BSS), number of spatial streams 1208, requested specific spatial stream 1210, modulation and coding scheme (MCS) 1212, and cyclic redundancy. Information such as inspection (CRC) 1214 is included. The allocation indication 1202 transmission is assumed to be a short transmission. The allocation indication 1202 transmission is much shorter than a typical WLAN frame. For example, the allocation indication 1202 transmission is a one symbol grade with a time of 4 microseconds. The allocation indication 1202 may also be a normal MAC transmission, eg, a control frame, a management action frame, or a frame in between.

  Allocation indication 1202 may include more data than a simple signal that includes only a small number of subcarriers. One advantage of including data is that the data can include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) 1214. This makes it possible to detect collisions with high reliability. In order to keep the allocation indication 1202 data signal as short as possible, it is important that the data can be decoded without the need for many training symbol timing and channel estimation. One possible allocation indication 1202 signal design that meets this requirement includes a small number (4 or 6) of pilot subcarriers that are encoded such that the data varies across subcarriers and has a known BPSK or QPSK phase. One phase frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol is transmitted using phase phase modulation (BPSK) or quadrature phase modulation (QPSK). Allocation indication 1202 The protection time of the OFDM symbol is increased so that the duration of the symbol fills the entire slot.

  The receiver may decode such symbols by performing the following steps. (1) resolve automatic gain control (AGC) at the beginning of the slot; (2) perform fast Fourier transform (FFT) on M samples; (3) estimate linear phase slope over pilot subcarriers; Correct all data subcarriers for this linear phase slope; (4) perform differential phase detection across subcarriers, ie multiply complex sample of subcarrier i by conjugate value of subcarrier i-1 as initial reference value Uses the first subcarrier i = 0, (5) performs BPSK or QPSK slicing, (6) performs CRC 1214 check and interprets data content. Allocation indication 1202 may consist of multiple OFDM symbols rather than just one OFDM symbol. This has the disadvantage that the receiver must perform symbol timing in the allocation display 1202 slots and determine the boundaries between the different allocation display 1202 symbols.

  The purpose of the allocation indication 1202 signal is to signal a number that is mapped to a particular SDMA spatial stream, multiple spatial streams, or a certain orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) configuration after a contention period. This means that the set of available allocation indication 1202 signals must be at least as large as the total number of SDMA and / or OFDMA configurations. There is an advantage of having an allocation display 1202 set size that is greater than the total number of configurations. This is because it allows collision detection or reduction. For unscheduled access, there is a fixed mapping from the allocation indication 1202 number to the SDMA / OFDMA configuration. If there are multiple allocation indications 1202 available for each configuration, if the access point 102 or the subscriber station 104 listens to multiple allocation indications 1202 pointing to the same configuration, it is proceeding to a collision. The access point 102 or the subscriber station 104 can know. This collision detection capability may be used to transmit a collision indication as previously described. For example, subscriber station 104 may send a collision indication.

  For scheduled access, the access point 102 selects a group of allocation indication 1202 values received during the contention period and maps this to the SDMA / OFDMA configuration. In this way, the probability of collision is reduced to the probability that two subscriber stations 104 will begin to transmit the same allocation indication 1202 in the same slot.

  The allocation indication 1202 signal is short enough to fit within one slot. There must be a certain number of different assignment indications 1202 signals with zero or low cross-correlation so that the access point 102 or the subscriber station 104 can detect the presence of multiple assignment indications 1202 signals within a slot. Don't be. This should be done in the presence of noise and multipath propagation. The detection of the allocation indication 1202 should be as simple as possible. This is because there is no extended preamble training time.

  One possible choice of allocation indication 1202 signal set is to use K OFDMA-based sets from N subcarriers. Here, N is the maximum number of OFDM subcarriers, and K <N is the number of subcarriers used by each allocation indicator 1202. For example, consider the case of an 802.11n 40 MHz channel with N = 114 subcarriers. One possible allocation indication 1202 signal set in this case is to choose K = 3 so that there are 38 possible allocation indication 1202 signals. Here, the allocation display 1202 signal number i is transmitted by subcarrier (38n + i) mod (114). n = {0,1,2} and i = {0,1,. . . , 37}. Thus, the allocation display 1202 number 0 is transmitted on the subcarrier {0, 38, 76}. In general, the allocation display 1202 signal number i is transmitted by subcarrier (Nn / K + i) mod N. In order to make the allocation indication 1202 signal more robust to frequency fading, K-tone interleaving is performed. Choosing a larger K value helps make the allocation indication 1202 signal more robust to frequency fading at the cost of reducing the total number of available signals.

  In order to receive the allocation indication 1202 signal, each subscriber station 104 should set the AGC of the subscriber station 104 at the beginning of each slot. This takes 1 to 2 microseconds depending on execution. After this gain setting, the smallest M samples should be collected. Here, M is a power of 2 that is larger than N and closest to N. For example, when N = 114, M = 128. The receiver then performs an FFT on the M samples to determine which subcarriers are used and which are not used. To determine whether a certain allocation indicator 1202 exists, the receiver sums the K subcarrier power for all possible allocation indicator 1202 signals and this power value is multiplied by a detection threshold. Compare with the estimated noise power level.

  FIG. 13 illustrates certain components included within the wireless device 1301. Wireless device 1301 may be subscriber station 104 or access point 102.

  The wireless device 1301 includes a processor 1303. The processor 1303 is a general purpose single or multiple chip microprocessor (eg, ARM), a dedicated microprocessor (eg, digital signal processor (DSP)), a microcontroller, a programmable gate array, or the like. The processor 1303 is called a central processing unit (CPU). Although a single processor 1303 is shown in the wireless device 1301 of FIG. 13, in an alternative configuration, a combination of processors (eg, an ARM and DSP) may be used.

  The wireless device 1301 further includes a memory 1305. The memory 1305 is an arbitrary electronic component that can store electronic information. Memory 1305 includes random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), magnetic disk storage medium, optical storage medium, flash memory device in RAM, on-board memory included with processor, EPROM memory , EEPROM memory, registers, etc., and combinations thereof.

  Data 1307 and instructions 1309 are stored in memory 1305. Instruction 1309 may be executed by processor 1303 to perform the methods disclosed herein. Execution of instruction 1309 involves the use of data 1307 stored in memory 1305.

  The wireless device 1301 further includes a transmitter 1311 and a receiver 1313 to allow transmission and reception of signals between the wireless device 1301 and a remote location. Transmitter 1311 and receiver 1313 are collectively referred to as transceiver 1315. Antenna 1317 is electrically coupled to transceiver 1315. Wireless device 1301 may include multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, multiple transceivers, and / or multiple antennas (not shown).

  Various components of the wireless device 1301 are coupled together by one or more buses. The bus includes a power bus, a control signal bus, a status signal bus, a data bus, and the like. For clarity, the various buses are shown as bus system 1319 in FIG.

  The techniques described herein are used in various communication systems. These communication systems include communication systems based on orthogonal multiplexing schemes. Examples of such communication systems include orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and the like. An OFDMA system utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). OFDM is a modulation technique that partitions the entire system bandwidth into multiple orthogonal subcarriers. These subcarriers are further called tones, bins, etc. In the case of OFDM, each subcarrier is independently modulated with data. SC-FDMA systems are interleaved FDMA (IFDMA) that transmit on subcarriers distributed over the system bandwidth, localized FDMA (LFDMA) that transmit on one block of adjacent subcarriers, or adjacent subcarriers. Use Enhanced FDMA (EFDMA) to transmit on multiple blocks. In general, modulation symbols are sent in the frequency domain in the case of OFDM and in the time domain in the case of SC-FDMA.

  In the above description, reference numbers have sometimes been used in conjunction with various terms. When the term is used in conjunction with a reference number, this is meant to refer to a particular element shown in one or more drawings. When terms are used without reference numbers, this is meant to refer generally to terms that are not limited to a particular drawing.

  The term “decision” encompasses a variety of actions. Thus, “determining” may include computation, computing, processing, derivation, examination, lookup (eg, lookup of a table, database, or other data structure), confirmation, and the like. Further, “determining” may include receiving (eg, receiving information), accessing (eg, accessing data in memory), and the like. Further, “determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing and the like.

  The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on,” unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describes both “based only on” and “based at least on”.

  The term “processor” should be interpreted broadly and includes general purpose processors, central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), controllers, microcontrollers, state machines and the like. In some situations, “processor” means application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic device (PLD), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and the like. The term “processor” means a combination of processing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or other such configuration. May be.

  The term “memory” should be interpreted broadly and encompasses any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. The term memory refers to various types of processor readable media such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read only memory (PROM). Erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage, registers, etc. If the processor can read information from and / or write information to the memory, the memory is said to be in electronic communication with the processor. Memory integrated with the processor is in electronic communication with the processor.

  The terms “instruction” and “code” are to be interpreted broadly and include any type of computer readable statement. For example, the terms “instruction” and “code” mean one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, procedures, and the like. “Instructions” and “code” comprise a single computer-readable statement or a number of computer-readable statements.

  The functions described herein may be performed by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions are stored as one or more instructions on a computer-readable medium. The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media can be RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or in the form of instructions or data structures. Any other medium that can be accessed by a computer that can be used to carry or store the desired program code. As used herein, disk and disc are compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disc, and Blu-ray disc. Including. Here, the disk normally reproduces data magnetically, and the disc optically reproduces data using a laser.

  Software or instructions are further transmitted over a transmission medium. For example, if the software uses a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technology such as infrared, wireless, and microwave, a website, server, or other If transmitted from a remote source, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, wireless, and microwave are included in the definition of transmission media.

  The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. The method steps and / or actions may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless the specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the described method, the order and / or use of specific steps and / or actions depart from the claims. It may be modified without any problem.

  Further, modules and / or other suitable means for achieving the methods and techniques described herein, eg, the methods and techniques illustrated by FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, may be downloaded and / or downloaded by the device. Or it should be understood that it can be obtained. For example, the device is coupled to a server to facilitate the transfer of means to accomplish the methods described herein. Alternatively, the various methods described herein may include storage means (eg, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), physical storage media such as a compact disk (CD) or floppy ( (Registered trademark) disk, etc.), and the device acquires various methods when the storage means is coupled or provided to the device. In addition, other suitable techniques for providing the methods and techniques described herein to a device may be utilized.

It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the precise configuration and components illustrated above. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the claims.
The description corresponding to Claim 1-35 at the time of filing is shown as Appendix 1-35 below.
Appendix 1
A method for providing an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) performed by a wireless device comprising:
Sending a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations;
Starting an SDMA contention window;
Receiving an allocation indication;
Allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication;
A method comprising:
Appendix 2
The method of claim 1, further comprising treating a collision with the SDMA contention window.
Appendix 3
The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP after the SDMA contention window ends.
Appendix 4
The method of claim 3, further comprising sending a block ACK to the subscriber station.
Appendix 5
The method of claim 1, further comprising sending feedback to the subscriber station after the SDMA contention window ends.
Appendix 6
6. The method of appendix 5, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP after the feedback is sent to the subscriber station.
Appendix 7
The method of claim 5, wherein the feedback includes allocation of SDMA TXOP.
Appendix 8
The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an ACK after receiving the allocation indication.
Appendix 9
The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device supports an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard.
Appendix 10
A wireless device configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) comprising:
A processor;
Circuitry coupled to the processor;
With
The circuit is
Send delimitation indications to one or more subscriber stations,
Start the SDMA contention window,
Receives an allocation indication,
Allocate the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication
Configured as a wireless device.
Appendix 11
The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the circuit is further configured to handle a collision in the SDMA contention window.
Appendix 12
The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the circuit is further configured to initiate an uplink SDMA TXOP after the SDMA contention window ends.
Appendix 13
The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to send a block ACK to the subscriber station.
Appendix 14
The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the circuit is further configured to send feedback to the subscriber station after the SDMA contention window has expired.
Appendix 15
15. The wireless device of clause 14, wherein the circuit is further configured to initiate an uplink SDMA TXOP after the feedback is sent to the subscriber station.
Appendix 16
15. The wireless device of clause 14, wherein the feedback includes SDMA TXOP allocation.
Addendum 17
The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the circuit is further configured to send an ACK after receiving an allocation indication.
Addendum 18
The wireless device of claim 10 that supports the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard.
Addendum 19
An apparatus configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) comprising:
Means for sending a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations;
Means for initiating an SDMA contention window;
A means of receiving an allocation indication;
Means for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource in accordance with the allocation indication;
An apparatus comprising:
Appendix 20
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and providing an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP), the computer readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions Is
A code for sending a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations;
Code to start the SDMA contention window;
A code to receive the allocation indication;
A code for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication;
A computer program product comprising:
Appendix 21
A method for providing an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) comprising:
Receiving an allocation indication;
Allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication;
A method comprising:
Appendix 22
A wireless device configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) comprising:
A processor;
Circuitry coupled to the processor;
With
The circuit is
Receives an allocation indication,
Allocate the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication
Configured as a wireless device.
Appendix 23
An apparatus configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) comprising:
A means of receiving an allocation indication;
Means for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource in accordance with the allocation indication;
An apparatus comprising:
Appendix 24
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and providing an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP), the computer readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions Is
A code to receive the allocation indication;
A code for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication;
A computer program product comprising:
Appendix 25
A method for providing an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) performed by a wireless device comprising:
Receiving an uplink SDMA request (USR);
Allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the USR;
Sending an ACK frame in response to the USR frame;
A method comprising:
Addendum 26
26. The method of clause 25, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP when sufficient resources are allocated.
Addendum 27
26. The method of clause 25, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP when sufficient time has expired.
Addendum 28
26. The method of clause 25, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP by sending an allocation frame.
Addendum 29
26. The method of clause 25, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP by consolidating an allocation frame into the ACK frame.
Addendum 30
26. The method of clause 25, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP by sending an allocation frame in a short inter-frame space (SIFS) after sending an ACK frame.
Addendum 31
26. The method of appendix 25, wherein the USR frame is an RTS frame and the ACK frame is a CTS frame.
Addendum 32
A method for providing an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) performed by a wireless device comprising:
Sending an uplink SDMA request (USR);
Receiving an ACK frame in response to the USR frame;
Receiving an allocation frame;
Transmitting uplink data according to the allocation frame;
A method comprising:
Addendum 33
The method of claim 32, further comprising stopping backoff when an ACK is received in response to a USR frame.
Addendum 34
34. The method of clause 33, further comprising resuming backoff after an uplink SDMA TXOP has occurred.
Addendum 35
The method of claim 32, further comprising resuming backoff after the USR frame is transmitted.

Claims (16)

A method for providing an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) performed by a wireless device comprising:
Sending a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations;
Starting an SDMA contention window;
Receiving an allocation indication;
Allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication;
Starting an uplink SDMA TXOP after the SDMA contention window ends;
Sending a block ACK to the subscriber station;
A method comprising:   The method of claim 1, further comprising treating a collision with the SDMA contention window.   The method of claim 1, further comprising sending feedback to the subscriber station after the SDMA contention window expires.   4. The method of claim 3, further comprising initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP after the feedback is sent to the subscriber station.   4. The method of claim 3, wherein the feedback includes SDMA TXOP allocation.   The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an ACK after receiving the allocation indication.   The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device supports an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. A wireless device configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) comprising:
A processor;
Circuitry coupled to the processor;
With
The circuit is
Send delimitation indications to one or more subscriber stations,
Start the SDMA contention window,
Receives an allocation indication,
Allocate the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication;
Start uplink SDMA TXOP after the SDMA contention window ends,
A wireless device configured to send a block ACK to the subscriber station.   The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the circuit is further configured to treat a collision in the SDMA contention window.   The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the circuit is further configured to send feedback to the subscriber station after the SDMA contention window has expired.   The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the circuit is further configured to initiate an uplink SDMA TXOP after the feedback is sent to the subscriber station.   The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the feedback includes an SDMA TXOP allocation.   The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the circuit is further configured to send an ACK after receiving an allocation indication.   The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the wireless device supports the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. An apparatus configured to provide an uplink space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) comprising:
Means for sending a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations;
Means for initiating an SDMA contention window;
A means of receiving an allocation indication;
Means for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource in accordance with the allocation indication;
Means for initiating an uplink SDMA TXOP after the SDMA contention window has ended;
Means for sending a block ACK to the subscriber station;
An apparatus comprising: A computer program for providing uplinks space division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOP),
A code for sending a demarcation indication to one or more subscriber stations;
Code to start the SDMA contention window;
A code to receive the allocation indication;
A code for allocating the requested uplink SDMA TXOP resource according to the allocation indication;
A code for starting an uplink SDMA TXOP after the SDMA contention window ends;
A code for sending a block ACK to the subscriber station;
Equipped with a computer program.

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